Manual unrolling device

ABSTRACT

A manual unrolling device for unrolling and tearing off a rolled up foil or paper web includes (a) a housing in which a winding body can be placed and having at least one web outlet opening; (b) at least one lid cover connected to the housing via a hinge; and at least one cutting element for separating a web section. The cutting element is arranged on a lower side of the lid cover that is directed toward the web outlet opening. A redirecting bar, and at least two pull-off bars across which the web is guided, are arranged parallel to each other at the web outlet opening. Upper edges of at least one pull-off bar are provided with a friction-enhancing coating, and the pull-off bars have a gap between them into which the cutting element dips when the lid cover is closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for unrolling and tearing off a rolled up foil or paper web, with a housing in which the winding body can be placed and which exhibits at least one foil outlet opening, and with at least one lid cover connected to the housing via a hinge and with at least one cutting element for separating a foil section.

Such a manual unrolling device is known from DE 203 15 295 U1. This device can indeed be used to tear off foil pieces creating a straight separation line. However, the separation is carried out such that the foil is drawn against a toothed bar, which requires a relatively great force. In addition, to withdraw the next section of the foil, the lid cover needs to be opened in order to grasp the foil again at its end and pull it out of the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, the objective of the invention to optimize a manual unrolling device with regard to easier operation.

This objective is achieved by a manual unrolling device of the type described above and in accordance with the invention wherein:

-   -   (a) the cutting element is arranged at the bottom side of the         lid cover that points toward the foil outlet opening, and     -   (b) a redirecting bar and at least two pull-off bars, which         serve as a guide for the foil, are arranged parallel to each         other at the foil outlet opening. The upper edges of at least         one of the pull-off bars are provided with a friction-enhancing         coating, and a gap is formed between the pull-off bars in which         the cutting element dips when the lid cover is closed.

The web, which may be a foil or thin paper, is initially unrolled slightly and guided to the outside of the housing such that the web runs beyond the pull-off bars. At the moment that the lid cover is closed, the web is pulled down by the outer redirecting bar such that it is guided downward adjacent to the housing and in this manner is tightened across the pull-off bars.

An alternative embodiment of the invention functions in the same manner. In this embodiment, however, the arrangement of the pull-off bars and of the cutting element in the housing and the lid are reversed, as compared to the first embodiment.

In this context, it is particularly advantageous to provide a symmetrical arrangement, wherein not only is a redirecting bar provided on the outside in front of the pull-off bars but also an additional inside redirecting bar is provided such that the web is pulled taut on both sides of the pull-off bars.

When closing the lid cover, the cutting element impacts the taut web such that it is separated at least across a significant portion of the width.

A discontinuation is provided preferably in the middle at the outer pull-off bar, which means, there is no bar at this location or the bar is significantly lower in height at this location such that the web cannot rest there. Thus, at this location it is in part not tightened as in the remaining areas, which results in it being not fully separated by the cutting element. Thus, a small bridge connection remains.

The user can grab the cut section and tear it off at the remaining bridge connection. To this end, he pulls at the same time additional portions of the foil web partially out of the manual unrolling device. The tip protruding in this manner from the manual unrolling device is used to easily grip the foil web upon the next use.

The hinges can be designed as film hinges such that the housing and lid cover can be made of one piece. To retain the foil or paper roll in the inside of the housing, an advantageous embodiment has a pivoting side flap attached on each side of the front side. This pivoting side flap has at least one holding mandrel for inserting it into a hollow cylindrical winding body of the web. The roll is supported by the holding mandrel and, because of this, will not drop out even when the lid cover is opened widely.

To this end, the housing can exhibit a slot-shaped recess on the front side and a holding mandrel designed as a flat bar can pivot into said recess. This allows even for the use of rolls that exhibit no or only a very tight hollow space. In this case, the side flaps simply remain on the outside in the up position.

The holding mandrel can engage in the slot-shaped recess by means of latching elements, for example in the form of partial elevations at the side areas.

Preferably, this side flap is connected to the housing or the lid cover via a film hinge. In particular, the film hinge is designed as a so-called butterfly hinge, such as is known, for example, from one-piece lid connections on packages for body care products. This design allows for defined closing and opening positions. Random unintentional opening of the side flaps is prevented because force must be used to overcome a dead center between these positions. According to one preferred embodiment, it is provided that when closing the lid cover at least one spring element, which is designed in particular as a leaf spring, is deflected. The spring element should preferably be arranged centrally in the area of the redirecting and pull-off edges. This has the following two effects:

Operation is made easier due to the slight counter-pressure because the lid cover is initially in the up position.

The spring, which not only pushes the lid cover up but in addition also pushes from underneath against the web located above, lifts it up from the pull-off bars. In this manner, the user can easily pull the web out to the desired length without having to hold the lid cover and having to keep the foil from the friction-reduced coated pull-off bars.

The other effect is that the user must overcome a certain counter force when closing the lid cover. As is also the case with precision mechanics pliers, where the pliers legs are spread apart of each other, this allows for sensitive force metering. In addition, the preset counter holding force when closing the lid cover also achieves a certain acceleration. In this manner, the cutting element exerts an impulse on the taut foil web underneath it. The sharpness of the cutting element combined with the sudden movement provides for easy separation of the web.

According to the invention, the separation is less caused by a strenuous indentation of a cutting element into the web but rather through a brief, fast, sudden closing movement of the lid cover.

In addition to or in place of the central spring element, spring elements can also be arranged in the housing on both sides in the front, in order to avoid canting even with an asymmetrical handling and to achieve the desired result.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should now be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 an exploded view of a manual unrolling device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 a perspective view of the manual unrolling device with a slightly opened lid cover.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the manual unrolling device with a closed lid cover and a foil section pulled out from it.

FIG. 5 a section of the manual unrolling device.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of a housing with side flaps in a magnified presentation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are designated with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a fully disassembled manual unrolling device 100. It comprises a housing 10 with an inner chamber 13, in which, for examples, foils 31 can be taken up that are wound onto a winding body 30.

A lid cover 10, which carries a cutting element 16 at its lower side, is connected to the housing 20 via two hinges 27.1, 27.2. At its front, the lid cover 10 concludes with a redirecting edge 14 that points downwards.

Two parallel pull-off edges 21, 22 exhibiting a silicon coating for slip resistance are provided at the front of the housing 20. A gap is present between them into which the cutting element 16 can move when the lid cover 10 is closed.

The front pull-off edge 22 has a discontinuation 23 in the center. In this area, the height is significantly reduced. The rear pull-off edge 21 has a recess in the center into which a leaf spring can dip when it is bent down.

At its narrow sides, the housing 20 has side areas with slot-shaped recesses 24. A side flap 25 that exhibits a holding mandrel 26 is connected at the side areas via a film hinge. Its shape corresponds precisely to the slot-shaped recess 24 such that when placing the side flaps 25 onto the housing 20, the holding mandrel 26 will be pushed through the recess 24 into the inner space 13 and there will be pushed into the hollow cylindrical winding body 30.

FIG. 2 shows the manual unrolling device 100 in a ready to use state. The foil web 31 is pulled out of the gap between the pull-off edges 21, 22 and the still open lid cover 10. The redirecting edge 14 is already resting on the foil web 31. Also visible is the discontinuation 29 in the front pull-off edge 22.

FIG. 3 shows the state created after the sudden closing of the lid cover 10. Closing causes the cutting element 16 to affect a cut 33 through the foil 31, said cut being, however, interrupted in the area where the discontinuation 29 is located and where the foil, therefore, has not been tightened between the pull-off edges 21, 22. A small bar 32 remains at this location by which the mainly already separated area of the foil 31 is still connected to the foil roll that is located inside of the manual unrolling device 100. Additional pulling, as indicated by the arrow, will tear off the foil piece at the bar 32.

As shown in FIG. 4, a portion of the bar 32 remains as the tip that protrudes from the re-directing edge 14, said tip being easily gripped subsequently in order to pull out a new piece of the foil.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the foil guide in the manual unrolling device 100. The section plane is located in the center of the manual unrolling device 100, i.e., it runs through the discontinuation 29. Shown is the position after the closing of the lid cover 10.

The foil 31 wound onto the winding body 30 runs underneath the inner redirecting edge 15, then up across the parallel pull-off edges 21, 22 and finally under the outer redirecting edge 14 toward the outside. Through the redirecting edges 14, 15 that are arranged to the right and left of the pair of pull-off edges 21, 22 and that reach deep into the bottom area of the bars that form the pull-off edges 21, 22, the foil 31 has been pulled taut to the pull-off edges 21, 22 and tightened across them when the lid cover 10 was closed. In the area of the section plane of FIG. 5, the cutting element 16 did not separate the foil because it did not rest tightly on the pull-off edges 21, 22.

The leaf spring 28 is bent down such that it causes the return forces onto the lid cover 10 and the foil web 31 guided across it. If the manual unrolling device 100 is no actively longer pushed closed by the user, the lid cover 10 moves abruptly upward and the foil 31 is lifted up as well such that it separates from the slip-resistant and maybe even slightly sticky pull-off edges 21, 22.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a side area of the housing 20 with the lid cover removed. The side flap 25 is connected to the housing 20 via a film hinge 25.1. Braces 25.2, 25.3 extend from the housing 20 and from the side flap 25 across the film hinge 25.1, with said braces having the shape of circular sections. The bracings have the effect that the film hinge 25.1 on the one hand is supported and on the other hand must be overextended to be able to move the side flap 25 from the open to the closed position.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the arrangement of the side flaps 25. It is apparent that the slot-shaped recess 24 for receiving the holding mandrel 26 extends to the bottom of the housing 20.

There has thus been shown and described a novel manual unrolling device which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow. 

1. A manual unrolling device for unrolling and tearing off a rolled up foil or paper web, said device comprising: (a) a housing in which a winding body can be placed and having at least one web outlet opening; (b) at least one lid cover connected to the housing via a hinge; and (c) at least one cutting element for separating a web section; the improvement wherein (1) the cutting element is arranged on a lower side of the lid cover that is directed toward the web outlet opening; (2) a redirecting bar, and at least two pull-off bars across which the web is guided, are arranged parallel to each other at the web outlet opening; (3) upper edges of at least one pull-off bar are provided with a friction-enhancing coating; and (4) the pull-off bars have a gap between them into which the cutting element dips when the lid cover is closed.
 2. A manual unrolling device for unrolling and tearing off a rolled up foil or paper web, said device comprising: (a) a housing in which a winding body can be placed and having at least one web outlet opening; (b) a lid cover connected to the housing via a hinge; and (c) at least one cutting element for separating a web section; the improvement wherein (1) the cutting element is arranged on the housing at the web outlet opening; (2) a redirecting bar, and at least two pull-off bars across which the web is guided, are arranged parallel to each other at a lower side of the lid cover that is directed toward the web outlet opening; (3) a lower edge of at least one pull-off bar is provided with a friction-enhancing coating; and (4) the pull-off bars have a gap between them into which the cutting element dips when the lid cover is closed.
 3. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 1, wherein an edge of a pull-off bar that is directed toward an outer side of the housing exhibits at least one discontinuity.
 4. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 2, wherein an edge of a pull-off bar that is directed toward an outer side of the housing exhibits at least one discontinuity.
 5. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 1, wherein said hinge is a film hinge.
 6. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 2, wherein said hinge is a film hinge.
 7. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one hinged side flap having at least one holding mandrel for insertion into a hollow cylindrical winding body of the web.
 8. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 2, wherein the housing includes at least one hinged side flap having at least one holding mandrel for insertion into a hollow cylindrical winding body of the web.
 9. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 7, wherein the housing has a one slot-shaped recess into which the holding mandrel, formed as a flat bar, can be inserted.
 10. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 8, wherein the housing has a one slot-shaped recess into which the holding mandrel, formed as a flat bar, can be inserted.
 11. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one spring element which is deflected when the lid cover is closed.
 12. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 2, further comprising at least one spring element which is deflected when the lid cover is closed.
 13. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 11, wherein the spring element is a leaf spring.
 14. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 12, wherein the spring element is a leaf spring.
 15. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 11, wherein the spring element is arranged centrally in the area of the redirecting and pull-off bars and wherein the spring element presses from below against the web that is guided above it.
 16. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 12, wherein the spring element is arranged centrally in the area of the redirecting and pull-off bars and wherein the spring element presses from below against the web that is guided above it.
 17. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 11, wherein said spring elements are arranged in the housing on both sides in the frontal area.
 18. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 12, wherein said spring elements are arranged in the housing on both sides in the frontal area.
 19. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second redirecting bar arranged on the inside of the housing ahead of the first pull-off bar.
 20. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 2, further comprising a second redirecting bar arranged on the inside of the housing ahead of the first pull-off bar.
 21. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 1, wherein the friction-enhancing coating of the pull-off bars contains a silicon compound.
 22. A manual unrolling device as defined in claim 2, wherein the friction-enhancing coating of the pull-off bars contains a silicon compound. 